From Esther Akaa, Lafia
The Nigeria Police Force (NPF), Nasarawa State command has trained about 500 Special Constabulary across the 13 local government areas of the state to serve as community policing officers.
Speaking on Monday, at a one-day sensitisation and awareness campaign on community policing, held in Lafia, the Special Rapporteur on Community Policing for Nasarawa, Benue and Plateau States, Deputy Inspector General of Police, DIG Peter Gana (Rtd) stressed the importance of community policing, saying it entails cooperation and collaboration between members of the public and the police, in tackling the country’s security challenges.
DIG Gana (Rtd), who represented the Inspector General of Police, IGP Mohammed Adamu, called on the general public to serve as volunteers, by providing information and support the Police in their various communities as it will help in addressing the security problems bedeviling the country.
Also speaking, the Assistant Inspector General of Police in charge of Zone 4, comprising Nasarawa, Benue and Plateau states, AIG Jonah John-Mava, revealed that out of the 503 Special Constabulary, 49 have successfully graduated from the training in Makurdi, the Benue state capital while the remaining 454 were currently undergoing training in Makurdi.
AIG John-Mava added that the Special Constabulary who have successfully completed their training were posted to their various communities.
“We have trained 49 special constables successfully, while the remaining 454 are currently undergoing training in Makurdi, the Benue state capital,” he said.
He commended Governor Abdullahi Sule for his effort in supporting the Nigeria Police in fighting crime and criminality in the state.
On his part, the state Commissioner of Police, Mr Bola Longe, reiterated the commitment of the command to fish out criminal elements in the state and make the state a peaceful place to stay.
He said that they would not allow criminal elements in the state to outweigh efforts of the police in fighting kidnapping and banditry activities.
Earlier, the Governor of Nasarawa State, Engr Abdullahi Sule, while declaring the sensitisation and awareness campaign open, said the aim of the programme was to enlighten members of the public on the significance of security, with a view to sustaining participation, collaboration and in addressing sundry crime related issues in the state.
Governor Sule, represented by his deputy, Dr Emmanuel Akabe added that, in order to develop socio-economic activities in the state, luv qall hands must be on deck to collaborate with security agencies to fight criminal elements.
“I want to use this medium to urge members of the public to support the community policing programme. This will go a long way in fighting crime and criminality in the state and paving way for our social economic activities to strive,” Governor Sule said.
